Mali, the eight-year-old Belgian Malinois, was given the highest military honor an animal can receive for his service in the British Military.

In a ceremony in London on Friday, Mali received the PDSA Dickin Medal for his service in Afghanistan in 2012, which included clearing enemy strongholds and alerting troops to the presence of armed insurgents.

"He saved lives. There's no question about it," a British Army officer said in a Facebook video honoring Mali's service.

The 2012 mission was dangerous for the troops and Mali. He was sent through direct fire twice and searched for explosives. The four-legged veteran was wounded by three grenade blasts, suffering injuries to his chest, front and rear legs, the loss of a tooth and ear damage.

The Dickin Medal is the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross, Britain's highest military award for gallantry in the face of the enemy.